of lead. She did not look at him. Always
she looked ahead. She moved slowly and heavily. When he spoke, her
lips answered him languidly. Rochester felt an intense and passionate
anger burning in his veins. The vague disquiet of an hour ago had
settled down into something definite. She was his no longer! Something
had come between them! Even though he might take her into his arms,
might hold her there, and dare anyone in the world to take her from
him, it was her body only, the shadow of herself. Something--some part
of her seemed to have flitted away. He asked himself with a sudden
cold horror, whether indeed it had remained by the side of that silent
figure, blotted out now from sight, who sat upon the rocks while the
darkness fell about him!

CHAPTER XXIV

LOIS IS OBEDIENT

Lois and her companion stopped on the summit of the hill to look at
the rolling background of woods, brilliant still with their autumn
coloring. The west wind had blown her hair into disorder, but it had
blown also the color back into her cheeks. Her eyes were bright, and
her laughter infectious. Her companion stooped down and passed his arm
through hers, looking into her face admiringly.

"Lois," he said, "this is the first day I have seen you like your old
self. I can't tell you how glad I am."

She smiled.

"I wasn't aware, Maurice," she said, "that I have been very different.
I have had headaches now and then, lately. Fancy having a headache an
afternoon like this!" she added, throwing back her head once more, and
breathing in the fresh, invigorating air.

"You ought to have seen a doctor," her companion declared. "I told
Lady Mary so the other day."

"Rubbish!" Lois exclaimed, lightly.

"Nothing of the sort," Captain Vandermere replied. "I was beginning to
worry about you. I almost fancied----"

"Well?"

"It almost seemed," he continued, a little awkwardly, "as though you
had something on your mind. You seemed so queer every now and then,
little girl," he added, "I do hope that if there was anything
bothering you, you'd tell me all about it. We're old pals, you know."

She laughed--not quite naturally.

"My dear Maurice," she said, "of course there has been nothing of that
sort the matter with me! What could I have on my mind?"

"No love affairs, eh?" he asked, stroking his fair moustache.

She shook her head thoughtfully.

"No!" she said. "No love affairs."

He tightened his grasp upon her arm. He had an idea th